Arthropod Pests of Public Health Significance in Australia (2013)

This document provides an overview of Australia's major arthropod pests of public health importance, focussing on their relative public health significance, recommendations for first aid, personal protection measures, and pest management. The content has been updated and expanded from the 1999 version, Guidelines for the Control of Public Health Pests - Lice, Fleas, Scabies, Bird Mites, Bedbugs and Ticks, and now represents a key resource for those agencies and other groups, workplaces and individuals dealing with infestations of arthropod pests.

This publication is available electronically and in hard copy (ENV77).

Assessment of Australia’s Regulatory Science Workforce Needs (2017)

This report was completed by Human Capital Alliance on behalf of enHealth in 2017, and is the first in a series of proposed work on the regulatory science workforce in Australia. The report identifies current regulatory science roles and responsibilities, defines the skill set required to meet those responsibilities, and identifies current and emergent workforce issues confronting regulatory science agencies.

Australian Exposure Factor Guide (2012)

The document is prepared as a companion to the 2012 update of the enHealth guidance document Environmental Health Risk Assessment: Guidelines for assessing human health risks from environmental hazards. This handbook is intended to provide risk assessors with sets of tabulated data on human factors that may be used as inputs to the exposure assessment component of an environmental health risk assessment.

This publication is available electronically and in hard copy (ENV76).

enHealth Guidance Statement on Lead in drinking water from some plumbing products

The statement highlights the risks associated with lead and the need to minimise an individual’s exposure as much as possible, especially for infants and children. The statement also offers advice as to how homeowners and individuals can minimise any potential exposures to lead leached out of plumbing fittings.

enHealth Guidance Statements on Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances

This document provides background and contextual information about per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which were previously known as "perfluorinated chemicals", or "PFCs", and guidance for state and territory public health units for use in assessing any public health risks where these chemicals have been released into the environment. The enHealth Guidance Statements on Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (the enHealth Guidance Statements) also provide guidance on the potential health impacts from exposure to three types of PFAS - perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); the major human exposure pathways; the development of human health reference values for PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS; breast feeding and pregnancy; and blood tests.

The enHealth Guidance Statements on PFAS were first issued in 2016. The statements were revised in 2019 to reflect the most current evidence relating to PFAS.

The enHealth Guidance Statements on PFAS revised in 2019 are available electronically in PDF and Word formats.

This interim national guidance was developed by the Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth) to assist relevant authorities in assessing any public health risks associated with the contamination of sites in Australia with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. The guidance includes interim reference values for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for use in assessing food, drinking water and recreational water.

This interim guidance has been rescinded by enHealth and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee effective as of 3 April 2017.

The rescinded interim guidance is available electronically in PDF and Word formats.

This manual is designed as a reference for Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) engaging with and working in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The manual was originally developed to provide the teaching resources required for the Aboriginal Environmental Health Worker training program, which commenced in Western Australia in 1986. Workforce development and training has evolved considerably since then, as has the sophistication of equipment used, but the core activities of EHPs continue to include work in key areas discussed in this manual.

This publication is available electronically and in hard copy (ENV51).

This document provides a national approach to environmental health risk assessment. The document presents a general environmental health risk assessment methodology applicable to a range of environmental health hazards. The focus is on chemical hazards, but the core methodology can also be applied to physical (e.g. radiation, noise) and microbiological hazards. The document is intended to be used by environmental health agencies reviewing risk assessments; people preparing risk assessments for environmental health agencies; and those regulatory agencies reviewing risk assessments. It is also intended to be of assistance to broader audience seeking information about processes of environmental risk assessment in Australia.

Guidelines for Legionella Control (2016)

These guidelines are designed to assist facility managers to assess the risk from Legionella in health and aged care facilities. The design and function of the water distribution system within a health or an aged care facility can affect the potential health risks posed by Legionella within the facility. The guidelines are aimed at facility managers and the members of a facility’s Legionella risk management team to support the development of a Legionella risk management plan. The guidelines apply to all water distribution systems in health and aged care facilities with the exception of cooling towers. Facility managers should consult relevant state or territory legislation and guidelines for the management and control of Legionella in cooling towers.

Guidance on the use of Rainwater Tanks (2010)

This third edition of Guidance on the use of Rainwater Tanks has been produced by the Environmental Health Committee (enHealth) of the Australian Health Protection Committee to revise the monograph produced in 2004. The aim of this guidance document is to consolidate information and advice on rainwater tanks in one document. It provides guidance on managing rainwater collected in domestic tanks in a way that should maximise the quality of water. The information on management and water quality is consistent with the general advice provided in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The health effects of environmental noise (2018)

This review updates and revises a 2004 Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth) report on the non–auditory effects of environmental noise.

With increasing urban populations and changes in urban development, a growing number of people in Australia are being exposed to environmental noise. The research literature has grown substantially, providing new insights into how people are being exposed to noise and potential health risks. This review intends to inform noise policy and regulation in Australia by evaluating the evidence of the health effects of environmental noise. It also highlights specific areas for further research. The review concludes that although the evidence is still emerging, it is sufficient to show that noise adversely affects health.

Health Impact Assessment Guidelines (2017)

Human health and development are linked through an array of environmental, social, cultural and economic determinants of health. In order for development to capitalise on opportunities to improve health as well as effectively manage any risks to health, it is critical that these links are identified and understood. This requires knowledge about both the type of health impacts that may occur and the distribution of those impacts in the affected community.

This challenge can be assisted by the application of Health Impact Assessment, an internationally recognised process that provides a systematic approach to address the potential health costs and benefits of projects, plans or policies. This publication outlines principles for undertaking a health impact assessment.

Risky Business - a resource to help local governments manage environmental health risks (2012)

This document has been developed for local government representatives and senior management. The aim of the resource is to raise awareness of how to minimise the financial, health and reputation risks related to the environmental health responsibilities of local governments and protect the interests of both their communities and their organisation. This publication is available electronically and in hard copy (ENV74).

The Role of Toxicity Testing in Identifying Toxic Substances in Water (2012)

This document outlines the steps that can be taken to identify an unknown toxicant in a drinking water source. The document describes toxicity testing and its application to water quality monitoring, outlines the standard protocol for toxicity identification evaluation and discusses how to bring the information together to produce a risk assessment.

The health effects of environmental noise - other than hearing loss (May 2004)

Thinking Sustainable Development - Acting for Health (2001)

Unflued Gas Heaters & Your Health Brochure (2005)

Zinc (1997)

Accessibility Issues

Should you encounter issues in accessing the information contained either on this web page or within the downloadable publications please email enHealth Secretariat (enHealth.Secretariat@health.gov.au).